Picnic Gourmet Spreads Issues Recall for Potential Health Risks
Contact:
Consumer:[email protected]
Media:
Brady Marz, Picnic Gourmet Spreads
301-983-1241[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Sept. 21, 2015 – Potomac, MD – Out of an abundance of caution, Picnic Gourmet Spreads is issuing a recall on their yogurt cheese spreads. These spreads could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria bacteria can cause a serious infection called listeriosis. Listeriosis is caused by eating food contaminated with Listeriabacteria and typically occurs within three days to 10 weeks of consumption (usually within three weeks). Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, which can be preceded by nausea or diarrhea. Listeria infection can be treated with antibiotics.
Persons at higher risk for disease include pregnant women, newborns, elderly persons, and individuals with a weakened immune system (for example: persons with AIDS, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease). Listeriosis in pregnant women may cause fever and other flu-like symptoms, which can be mild. However, because Listeria infection can cause premature labor, premature delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth or severe infection of newborns, it is especially important that pregnant women avoid these products.
The recall was a result of routine retail sampling by the DHMH Office of Food Protection, and subsequent analysis by the DHMH Laboratories Administration which revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the product.
The potentially contaminated products include Red Pepper Feta Cheese Spread, Moroccan Cilantro Cheese Spread, Tandoori Garlic Cheese spread, Herbed Goat Cheese, Parmesan Cheese Spread, and Chipotle Sage Cheese Spread.
These products were distributed to retail stores in Maryland, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C. , Minnesota and Illinois and have a “Best By” date of October 6th.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with any of these products.
Consumers who have purchased any of these products are urged to dispose of the product immediately. Consumers with questions may contact Picnic Gourmet Spreads at [email protected]
Media Contact: Brady Marz, Picnic Gourmet Spreads, 301-983-1241, [email protected]
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* We believe that none of the products being recalled were processed or offered through the national office.

* We strongly encourage you to notify your agencies within one business day from receipt of this notice.

* ALL cased and uncased inventories, both at the member level and agency level, need to be checked. This product may have entered member and agency warehouses through salvage, local donations, TEFAP, local purchases, retail pickups, food drives, or other avenues.

* For additional local details, please contact the Health Department(s) for the area(s) your food bank serves.
For full details on the recall, please visit: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm463535.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

If you have questions, please contact Wayne Melichar, Food Safety Manager, at [email protected] or 312.629.7263.